§ Mr. O'DOWDasked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he is aware that, according to recognised Civil Service regulations, it is the immediate official superior that has to recommend or not to recommend the usual salary increments in the case of subordinate officers; that the immediate official superior of the district inspectors of national schools is the senior inspector of the circuit in which the particular district inspector happens to be stationed; whether he will say why, under these circumstances, it is the chief inspector who very seldom sees them, and not the senior inspector who is constantly in touch with them, that has, notwithstanding, to certify or not for increments in such cases; and why district inspectors are not definitely informed officially with regard to this matter, as also with regard to the particular circuit (of the 20 or so in Ireland) under the supervision of each of the two chief inspectors respectively?
§ Mr. BIRRELLUnder the Order in Council of 29th November, 1898, an annual increment of salary cannot be allowed a person in the established Civil Service without a certificate from his immediate superior that such person's conduct during the year preceding the date of the certificate has been approved. For the purposes of the Order in Council the chief inspectors are recognised by the Commissioners of National Education as the immediate superiors of the inspectors generally, as they are personally acquainted with the members of the staff, and are in a position to certify as to their conduct and efficiency. The Commissioners inform me that the relations existing between the chief inspectors and the various members of the inspection staff are well understood by all concerned.